Island



(No Model.)

A. J. BARBER.

BIGYGLB HANDLE.

110.583.781. Patented June 1,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALLAN J. BARBER, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

BICYCLE-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 583,781, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed August 25,1896. Serial No'. 603,893. (No model.)

. socket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Handles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in adjustable hand-grips for the handle-bars of bicycles; and the object is to provide a grip of this class that can be adjusted at different points on the handle-bar to suit the comfort and convenience of the rider.

To this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same figures of reference indicate the same parts of the invention. I

Figure l is a plan view of myimproved grip with one style of clamp-ferrule which, I propose to use in connection therewith, the handle-bar being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of one of the clampferrules, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal view of the same.

l represents the handle-bar, 2 2 the clampferrules, and 3 the helical cork handle. Each ferrule consists of two semicircular clamps 4 et', formed with apermanent hinge-joint 5, and a similar joint 6, provided with a detachable pin 7. These ferrules are preferably of metal and are formed with a central annular internal rib 8, through which are radially inserted a series of set-screws 9. The outer edge of each ferrule has a curved flange 10, which forms a finish to the handle-grips.

The helical handle 3 may be of cork, rubber, Celluloid, or the like, or a combination of such materials, and it is preferably iirst formed in the proper shape and then separated spirally by aparting-tool to form a helix. The ends of the helix are then connected in the ferrules and the whole slipped on the handle-bar. One of the ferrules is then made fast to said bar by its set-screws 9and the other ferrule is then turned on the handlebar to twist the helix, so as io draw its convolutions close together and at the same time snugly encompass the handle-bar, and the ferrule is then secured in this position by its set-screws, so that the Whole is firmly and rigidly secured .to the handle-bar.

By releasing the ferrules the helix may be unwound to increase its diameter and allow it to pass over the curves in the handle-bar, so that it may be adjusted at any suitable point between the end of the handle-bar and the steering-post.

I also wish to use other styles of ferrules or clamps at the ends of the helix, or the handle may be separated,as described,to form a helix, leaving a narrow margin at each end uncut to be secured to the handle-bar by means of cement, the narrow unseparated parts easily sliding over the end of the bar and over its curves, While the-central helical parts are in a loose and unwound condition.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the'United States, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a grip for the handle-bars of bicycles, consisting of a cylindrical flexible body formed of a helically-wound strip, whereby the body may be torsionally twisted and contracted to reduce the diameter of its bore to enable it to snugly lit the handle bar throughout the entire length, and means for holding the body in its state of contraction.

2. The combination with a bicycle handlebar, of a grip consisting of a flexible elastic strip of material wound helically into cylindroal form with its bore of greater normal dijusted positionztnd to hold its coils or convoameter than the handle-bar to which it is to lutions in their state of contraction. 1o he attached, whereby it may be slipped lon- In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my gitudinztllyover the handle-bar and its curves signature in presence of two witnesses. to different points in the length of the han- ALLAN J. BARBER.

elle and then be torsionztlly twisted to reduce Vitnesses:

the diameter of its bore to snugly f1tthe bar, ANDREW VALTHER,

and means for Clamping the grip in its ad JEFFERSON ALDRICH. 

